Sustainability

Old Is New Again

The aim of the Flip House remodel in Geneseo, N.Y., was to re-use nearly all materials from the original 1924 home, says Ali Yapicioglu, AIA, of In.Site: Architecture. As the small house was gutted, bricks, lumber, decking, windows, and doors were salvaged and old nails were sent to a recycling center. The materials were stored in a backyard shed and the basement until construction began.

Even the home’s old vinyl siding was repurposed. Yapicioglu kept it on the house and incorporated it into a rainscreen that was furred out with strips made from recycled pressure-treated wood decking and topped by new western larch. It was an unconventional purpose for a seemingly un-recyclable material, he says.

“We had to extend all the jambs for the doors and windows but when you take on that kind of philosophy you have to do the additional work that comes along with it,” he says.

In addition, stair treads from the main house were reused to make steps leading into the basement and garage and chalkboard from a nearby elementary school renovation was speced for the kitchen countertop, bathroom vanities, and fireplace surround.

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About the Author

Jennifer Goodman is Senior Editor at BUILDER and has 17 years of experience writing about the construction industry. She lives in the walkable urban neighborhood of Silver Spring, Md. Connect with her on Twitter at @Jenn4Builder.